Track-cleaner



(No Model.)

A. CHISHOLM.

TRACK CLEANER.

No. 490,269. Paten-ted Jan. 24, l893.

Unirse STATES PATENT Crimen..

ARCHIBALD CHISHOLM, OF BAY CITY, MICHIGAN.

TRACK-C LEAN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming' part 0f Letters Patent No. 490,269, dated January24, 1893. Application led October 29, 1891. Serial No. 410.212. (Nomodel.)

-To @ZZ whom t may concern: i

Be it known that I, ARCHIBALD CHISHOLM, a citizen of the United States,residing at Bay City, in the county of Bay and State of Michigan, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Track-Cleaners, of whichthe following is a specification, reference being had therein to theaccompanying drawings.

This invention pertains to devices for cleaning the track of electricroads, and is designed more especially for use in electric cars, withthe object of providing a means for removing dry dust particles anddebris on the rails of an'electric road, so as to provide a more uniformand perfect contact of the metal surfaces of the wheels and the rails,for providing a perfect and unobstructed electrical connection betweenthe track and car wheels.

My invention consists iirst in the method of removing the dust and dbrisfrom the surface of the rails of an electric road, by

means of an air blast directed upon the track the third part of theinvention consists in the y combination, arrangement and operation ofthe several parts together with the construction of the same as I shallfully describe in the following specication, and which will also bespecically defined in the claims thereof.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which thesame figures of reference will be found designating the same elementsthroughout the several views.

Figure 1, is a pian view of the tracks of an electric car with my deviceattached thereto. Fig. 2, is a longitudinal vertical section of thetrucks and embodying my improvement. Fig. 3, is an end view of thedevices shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4, is a front view of the nozzle and itssupporting devices detached and enlarged. Fig. 5, is a side view of thesame partly in longitudinal section. Fig. 6, is a view of the under sideof the nozzle.

1 represents the frame of the trucks; 2 are the axles; and 3 are carwheels which carry the truck frame, and 4L are the rails upon which thewheels run.

5, is a motor for propelling the car, and 6, is the car body which iscarried by the trucks.

Upon a suitable support 7, carried by the frame 1, preferably locatedbetween the front and rear wheels is mounted a blower S, driven by powersupplied from any suitable source preferably however by a small electricmotor common to both motor and blower.

Leading from the blower 8, is a main pipe 11, and this pipe is providedwith branch pipes 12, leading to the front and rear ends of the truckswhere each are provided with lateral branch pipes 18, and 14, extendingto the outer sides of and in proximity to the peripheries of the wheels3. The branch pipes 13, and 14, are each provided with a pliable section15, and are connected with a downwardly turned section 16, provided witha nozzle 17, supported in close proximity to the surface of the rail.

Upon the frame 1, 0r to some other suitable part of the car ispermanently secured a support 18, provided with an inwardly projectinghorizontal shelf 19, and to this support is pivoted by one end a radialbar 20, while to the outer end of the bar is pivoted one end of a hanger21, the opposite portion of the hanger being rigidly secured to thedownwardly turned section of pipe 16, and the bar 20, and hanger 21,rest with their lower edges upon the shelf 19, which then serves tocarry the pipe section with its nozzle in proper relation to the track,and the arrangement of the hanger and bar allows the pipe section toretain a vertical position under all normal conditions, but also allowsa vertical movement thereof to obtain and a backward or forward movementof the nozzle as well, so that should the nozzle come in contact with aslight obstruction on the track, a backward movement of the nozzle willbe had by the hanger turning on its pivot, while should the car leavethe track so that the bottom of the nozzle comes in contact with anobstruction the bar 20, then turns on its pivot as also does the hangerand allows the nozzle to move upward, the pliable section 15, of coursebeing adapted for allowing the nozzle to have a lirnited movement in alldirections.

At the intersection 22, of the main pipe 11, and the branch pipes 12, isplaced a vertical spindle 23, and on this spindle Within the pipe ismounted an air valve 24, which can be placed across the openin g orchannel of either pipe 12, so that an air current from the blower can bedirected through either pipe 12, by turning the spindle to move thevalve 24, to close the channel of the other pipe, and a crank 25, issecured to the upper end of the spindle 23, where with to oscillate thelatter, and this spindle may be extended into the car if desired, andthe crank may be located in any suitable position as may be mostconvenient for the operator. The lower end of the nozzle is preferablyelongated from front to rear and contracted laterally, and a shortdividing plate 26, is introduced in the channel, transversely with theopening, so that the main channel is divided into a short verticalchannel 27, and a channel 2S, which has a slight forward incline, sothat an air blast through the pipe will have a portion directed forwardthrough the channel 2S, for counteracting the relative current formed bythe forward movement of the car, while a downward current through thechannel 27, behind the first current, is forced directly upon thesurface of the track in the eddy of the forward current, and operates toremove and clean from the surface of the rail all loose particles ofdust or dbris which may be in contact therewith.

In practice the valve 24, is turned to close the branch pipe 12, whichleads to the rear, and leaving a free opening through the forwardlyextending pipe 12, and branch pipes 13 and 14, and nozzles 17, and anelectric current being turned on the motor 9, motion is imparted to theshaft 10, and the blower, which forces a strong current of air throughthe pipes and nozzles directly upon the surface of the rails, andremoves therefrom all dust, dirt, loose snow or any dry particles ofloose matter which is liable to settle upon the rails and operate toform a partial insulation or an imperfect contact between the wheels andtrack, which, when the track is used as a machine for conducting thenegative current causes great loss of power and time as well as troubleand inconvenience, as a slight interposition of dust particles providesa great resistance, and consequent loss of power. Of course it isintended that the form of the nozzles can be arranged to adapt thedevice for moving dbris of a special character, and the form andlocation of the pipe construction and blower can be changed to suit carsof different constructions, as the main feature to be obtained is to soarrange the mechanism that the air blast will be directed upon the trackin front of the wheels. And it may be preferable in some instances togive a laterally oblique direction to the nozzles, so that the dust maybe blown toward the center of the track or to the outer sides thereof,so that I wish it understood that I intend that the nozzles can bedirected in any desired direction and not depart from the spirit andintent of my invention.

It will be seen that a series of electric cars provided with myimprovement and running overa track willoperate to eectually remove lall dry loose particles, while damp or wet material such as mud or wetcinder rbc., forms a good conductor and develops no great resistance,and such material when dried is quickly pulverized by the passing carwheels, and is then removed by the air blasts from the car next'passing.It will also be observed that the nozzles being held free from contactwith the rails, no wear of the parts obtains and consequently no removalor repair of these parts are needed and a uniform and positive action isobtained.

Another advantage of the use of my improved device is that when a lightsnow is falling or drifting upon the rails it is continually removed bythe air blast before the wheels pass over it, so that the liability ofthe snow becoming packed upon and freezing to the rails is avoided, andthe great expense usually incurred in cleaning the rails is saved andbetter and more satisfactory road service is rendered.

lVhat I claim as my invention is:-

1. The combination of an electric car, .i blower upon the car and meansfor imparting motion to the blower, a main air pipe leading from theblower and provided with branch pipes leading to the tracks, with thenozzles 17, upon the ends of the branch pipes and provided with theforwardly inclined channel 2S. and with the vertical channel 27, in rearof said channel 28, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a track cleaner the combination of the car, the blower mounted onthe car and provided with main air pipes and with branch pipes leadingfrom the main pipe toward the rails, and provided with pliable sectionsand with vertical sections having nozzles with open ends in proximity tothe rails, with the supports secured to the car and each provided with alaterally extending horizontal shelf. the radial bars pivoted by one endto the supports and resting on said shelves, the hangers pivoted to theouter ends of said radial bars and resting on` the shelves, and withtheir outer portions 'secured to the vertical pipe sections,substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of an electric car, a. blower upon the car and meansfor imparting motion to the blower, a main air pipe leading from theblower, and having branch pipes leading toward the track and providedwith pliable sections, and the nozzles connected to the ends of saidbranch pipes and provided with a forwardlyv inclined channel 28, andIntestimonywhereoflafx my signature in with a vertical channel 27,directed upon the presence of two Witnesses.

rail, the supports 18, carrying the bars 20,piv

oiled thereto, and the hangers 21, pivoted by ARCHIBALD CHISHOLM. oneend to said bars 20, and with their opposite endssecured to the saidbranch pipes, substantially as sei, forth.

Witnesses:

FRED B. SPEAR, JAS. E. THOMAS.

